'From the Tiny Ant'

To explore the theme of the song through actions (Based on the song by Geoffrey Gardner)

by Gordon and Ronni Lamont

Suitable for Key Stage 1

Aims

To explore the theme of the song through actions.

Preparation and materials

• Make sure you are familiar with the song (Come and Praise, 79).

Assembly

1. Sing through the song, 'From the tiny ant'.
   
   
2. Explain that there are 15 different animals mentioned and that you need actions that everyone can do for all of them. Go through the animals one by one and ask for suggestions for actions in each case. Settle on one clear action for each animal and get everyone to practise it.
   
   
3. Sing the song through with the appropriate actions. You could ask the children who suggested each one to come to the front for everyone else to follow.
   
   
4. Once you have practised the actions and most children seem to have memorized them, you could split the assembly into different groups, each responsible for singing one line with its accompanying action - everyone joins in with the chorus.
   
   
5. Talk briefly about the chorus and its message - that all this wonderful variety of animals is our responsibility. We need to do what we can to look after the animals of the world. Talk about some ways of doing this, perhaps referring to school or local conservation initiatives, as well as the global perspective such as the World Wildlife Fund (http://www.panda.org/index.cfm).

Time for reflection

Dear God,
Thank you for all the wonderful variety of animals in our world.
Help us all to do what we can to look after them.
Amen.

Song/music

'From the tiny ant' (Come and Praise, 79)